Nemesia plant named ‘Nemhswhi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nemesia  plant named ‘Nemhswhi’ that is characterized by a semi-trailing and compact habit, white flowers, a yellow palate, very early flowering and absolutely no seedset. In combination these characteristics set ‘Nemhswhi’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Nemesia  known to the inventor.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Nemesiahybrid.

Varietal denomination: ‘Nemhswhi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesiaplant, botanically known as Nemesia hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Nemhswhi.’

The new Nemesia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The goals of the breedingprogram were to improve on plant habit by breeding plants that were morecompact and basal branching. Earliness of flowering was anothercharacter that was very important in the breeding process, together withproducing no seed-pods.

The new Nemesia originated from a cross-pollination made by the inventorin 2000 of an unpatented Nemesia plant, named ‘A233-1’, as the female,or seed, parent with an unpatented Nemesia plant named ‘A71-2’, as themale, or pollen, parent. The cultivar ‘Nemhswhi’ was discovered andselected by the inventor as a plant within the progeny from thiscross-pollination in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, TheNetherlands, in 2001.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2001 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a two-yearperiod. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmlyfixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Nemesia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Nemesia. The data that define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks oldplants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a10.5 cm container. Colour readings were taken in the greenhouse underambient light. Colour references are primarily to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Nemhswhi’, its parents anda similar cultivar ‘Nemhswhi’ ‘A233-1’ ‘A71-2’ ‘Pensug’ Seedset NoLittle Plentiful Plentiful Flower size Medium Medium Small Small Flowercolor White White White White Palate color Yellow Yellow White Yellow

The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Vanilla Schet.’This has been the synonym in Europe of ‘Sugar Girl.’ The patented nameof this variety if ‘Pensug’ and its U.S. Plant Pat. No. is 12,811.

-   The plant:    -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Nemesia. Species: Hybrida.        -   Parentage.—Female parent: A seedling named ‘A233-1’ is one            of our seedlings from our A-generation of plants bred            in 1998. Pollen parent: A seedling named ‘A71-2’ is one of            our seedlings from our A-generation of plants bred in 1998.        -   Growth habit.—Upright and compact.        -   Plant height.—18-23 cm.        -   Spreading area of plant.—20-30 cm.        -   Strength.—Resistant to hot and cold weather. Plants have            been exposed to temperatures ranging from 0° C.-35° C.        -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching            at every node.        -   Blooming period.—From April until November: The plant            displays very early flowering at 27-32 days after potting.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative stem cuttings.        -   Sexuality.—Hermaphrodite.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 days at            temperatures of 21 degrees centigrade is needed to produce            rooted cuttings.        -   Root system.—Numerous and fine, the color is N155A.        -   Disease and pest susceptibility and resistance.—There are no            disease problems known to the inventor other than what            affects typical Nemesia.-   The stem:    -   -   Diameter.—3-4 mm.        -   Length.—8-10 cm.        -   Shape.—Quadrilateral with ridges.        -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.        -   Color of the stem.—137B.        -   Length of internode.—20-35 mm, depending on the light where            the plant is propagated.        -   Pubescence.—Glabrous.        -   Length lateral branches.—8-12 cm.-   The foliage:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side: Glabrous.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—25-60 mm.        -   Width.—15-40 mm.        -   Depth of incision.—1-2 mm.        -   Color.—Upper side: 139A. Lower side: 138B.        -   Petiole length.—1-4 mm.        -   Petiole surface structure.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Petiole coloration.—Upper side: 139B. Lower side: 138A.-   The bud:    -   -   Peduncle length.—10-30 mm, depending on season.        -   Peduncle diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Peduncle color.—137B.        -   Peduncle surface.—Glabrous.        -   Pedicel length.—4-12 mm.        -   Pedicel diameter.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Pedicel color.—137C.        -   Pedicel surface.—Glabrous.        -   Stipule length.—1-3 mm.        -   Stipule width.—1-2 mm.        -   Stipule shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Stipule color.—Upper side: 137B. Lower side: 137C.        -   Bud size.—Diameter: 4 mm. Length: 3-5 mm.        -   Bud shape.—Globular.        -   Bud color.—155B.        -   Bud surface.—Glabrous.        -   Sepals.—Color (upper side): 137B. Color (lower side): 137B.            Form: Upright. Surface: Glabrous. Number: 5, fused. Length:            1-3 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate.            Base: Fused. Margin: Entire.-   The flower:    -   -   Type of inflorescence.—Axillary raceme.        -   Flower shape.—Personate.        -   Flower color.—Upper side: 155C. Lower side: 155B.        -   Palate color.—3A in the center and 2D to the right and left            sides of the center.        -   Nectary (located on underside of palate).—3 mm in width and            3 mm in length.        -   Nectary color.—159C.        -   Throat color.—Upper surface: 155C. Lower surface: 2D.        -   Surface of upper lip.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side:            Glabrous.        -   Surface of lower lip.—Upper side: Glabrous. Lower side:            Glabrous.        -   Lip margin.—Lower lip: Entire. Upper lip: Entire.        -   Number of lips.—2.        -   Lobes.—Upper lip: 4. Lower lip: 1.        -   Lobes on upper lip fused or unfused.—Fused.        -   Upper and lower lips fused or unfused.—Basally fused.        -   Lip apex (upper lip).—Each lobe has a rounded apex.        -   Lip base (upper lip).—Truncate.        -   Lip apex (lower lip).—Obcordate.        -   Lip base (lower lip).—Truncate.        -   Upper lip color.—Upper side: 155C. Lower side: 155B.        -   Lower lip color.—Upper side: 155C. Lower side: 155B.        -   Flower dimensions.—1.1 cm in depth, 1.6 cm in length and 1.5            cm in width at the widest part.        -   Lower lip dimensions.—0.8 cm in length and 1.2 cm in width.        -   Upper lip dimensions.—0.8 cm in length and 1.6 cm in width.        -   Lobe dimensions (upper lip).—0.8 cm in length and 4 mm in            width.        -   Flower spur dimensions.—0.7 cm in length and 1-2 mm in            diameter.        -   Spur color.—1C.        -   Calyx dimensions.—4 mm in length and 5 mm in width.        -   Calyx color.—135B.        -   No. of flowers per inflorescence.—50 to 80.        -   Fragrance.—A strong vanilla fragrance occurs.        -   Bloom time of one inflorescence.—New florets continue to            open in one inflorescence over a period of 30 days.        -   Lastingness of one flower.—3 to 7 days.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther            length: 0.3 mm. Anther width: 0.2 mm. Anther color: 2D.            Pollen amount: Scarce pollen. Pollen color: 2D.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 3 mm. Stigma            color: 144D. Style length: 3-5 mm. Style color: 144D. Ovary            color: 144D. Ovary position: Superior. Ovary shape: Oval.            Ovary dimensions: 0.3 mm in width and 0.4 mm in length.            No seedset is observed.

1. A new and distinct Nemesia plant named ‘Nemhswhi’, substantially asillustrated and described herein.